When I told my wife about seeing this movie, she said "What did Gary Hart ever do to warrant a movie"? Needless to say, I did not take her to see it.
The answer to her question would be, if you have the right viewpoint, he was an idealistic Democratic Presidential candidate at the right time in the 80s, but was brought down by a changing view of what moral compass we expect our politicians to be guided by. If that sounds a bit fuzzy, its because it is.
Most of the movie looks, sounds and feels like the 70s instead of the 80s. In fact it reminded me of a Mary Tyler Moore show in some parts. But we do have obligatory 80s product placements: TRS-80 computers, landlines, brick cell phones, VHS technology.
The story can't quite go to #MeToo lengths but it tries. It ultimately doesn't really say or answer much, but tries to get a feel in time. At best it's the usual American President/West Wing/Definitely Maybe about the wonderful candidate whose close handlers see all the promise but have to swallow the flaws. At worst its a pat-on-the-back story in search of a politically like-minded backer abou the good old days and what might have been.
Directed by Jason Reitman in the bleak realism of Up in the Air. Starring Hugh Jackman (a yawner, IMHO), Vera Farmiga, J.K. Simmons, and Alfred Molina as Ben Bradlee and Mahoumou Athie as A.J.
How many movies can we have about the Washington Post/ The Post ? Perhaps that is the politically like-minded backer....
* * * of 5
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